Crook County, Illinois judge convicted of fraud will be on ballot for retention this fall

Earlier this year Jessica Arong O’Brien, a Cook County Judge, was found guilty of mortgage fraud in a federal court in Chicago.

Then her law license was suspended.

But Crook County voters will still be able to keep her on the bench this fall.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Refusing to back down three months after losing her trial at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, O’Brien filed paperwork May 2 setting herself up for a retention vote in the Nov. 6 election, according to the State Board of Elections.

O’Brien filed her paperwork the week after the Illinois Supreme Court suspended her from practicing law “effective immediately.” Meanwhile, she’s been trying to convince a federal judge to overturn the jury’s verdict.

For now, she continues to be paid as a Cook County judge but does no judicial work, records show.

Long-suffering Cook County taxpayers--that of courses includes me--are paying her nearly $200,000 salary.

Two years ago Rhonda Crawford, a Democratic candidate for judge who was working as a law clerk, actually put on a judge's robe and presided over some traffic cases before winning her election--and of course before she was sworn in. She remained on the ballot and of course moronic Cook County voters still elected her. But Crawford was not allowed to take her seat on the bench.

Last month she died--authorities are calling it a likely suicide.

O'Brien is also a Democrat.

And she has no sense of honor.